Understanding Basic Spectrum Analyzer Operation

[@canadian_spaceman]

I can't recommend these videos enough to my colleagues. They're great refreshers even for those of us that use this equipment every day. This video helped me settle a little debate with my manager on video bandwidth, so thank you!

[@LachezarLefterov-b8s]

did u win this debate

[@peskycat]

Best introduction to the spectrum analyzer I have yet seen. Thank you!

[@russellslater4037]

One of the best descriptions I've seen. It generated a number of eureka moments as I finally understood. Thanks you

[@pauldenisowski]

Glad it was helpful - thanks for the feedback!

[@AL6S00740]

Thank you R&S you made the use of instruments way more clear now. Thank you

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks! We just posted a video today on how to make these kinds of measurements on the FPC series spectrum analyzers, and we'll be posting more how-to videos in the future as well. Appreciate the feedback!

[@arieshmendrik8670]

This and other of your videos helped me face questions in a professional interview. Thanks !!

[@pauldenisowski]

Hope you got an offer! Thanks!

[@code1017]

So awesome. Thank you so much from a newbie

[@pauldenisowski]

Thank you!

[@lolo-cz3yk]

By far the best on internet

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks!

[@stevetuzeneu5992]

Great video. I noticed a low frequency oscillation in the audio portion of the presentation.

[@jb3757]

Thank you for the time, it was very useful and appreciated.

[@pauldenisowski]

Thank you!

[@jakedillingham]

Another great video 🎉

[@pauldenisowski]

Appreciate the feedback!

[@MMBNMalternateaccoun]

Thank you, this is a very good answer and lesson to a question I had. You have put out some wonderful knowledge sir! Please continue being a fine educator

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks for the feedback! There are many more videos to come, so please stay tuned!

[@PreangkaRoy]

Very informative video, thanks a lot.

[@SideshowKevlo]

Great video, thanks!

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks!

[@mohamadhamoudy8232]

Thanks a lot , please regarding the RBW filter , is this operation mathematically as multiplying the signal with the RBW function in the time domain , which is equivalent to convolution in the frequency domain , so the lower RBW bandwidth ( spectrum ) the more resolving closely spaced frequencies ?

[@tuckerp97]

Fantastic explanation! Thank you!

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks!

[@benevolentbear8213]

Amazing presentation. Thanks

[@rodrigomesquita8741]

Really nice the explanation! Thanks a lot!

[@omsingharjit]

3:58 why you said " most of sa use HD principal? is it like because There's two types of SA one using FFT and other use only HD principal without FfT ? when i was thinking how could SA might work i though logically that it might be working by scanning frequency one by one and Plotting The amplitude using Saw and VCO but after that i found SA are using FFT Algorithm than later i foud that there's also similar concept as mine previous thinking by scanning frequency. but still not sure if SA uses both techniques tougher or any one ?

[@pauldenisowski]

It's a good, but complicated, question. :) The heterodyne principle is still the dominant architecture for most general purpose spectrum analyzers. However, many mid- to high-end spec ans also support operation in FFT (often called "realtime") mode, either as a standard feature or as an option. FFT is also often used in "specialty" spectrum-measuring instruments such as EMI receivers or monitoring (sigint) receivers. A convenient rule of thumb is that if you're looking at signals that you are creating or controlling, then a heterodyne based analyzer is usually use. On the other hand, if you're looking at (or for) signals that are "unknown" (as in the case of EMC testing, radiomonitoring, signals intelligence, etc.), then FFT analysis is most often used. This is a bit of an oversimplification, but in my experience it's a good way to separate spec an architectures by application. Hope that helps!

[@juanmerino3682]

Perfect, lesson, thank

[@vk5fe943]

Excellent videos

[@uttamyadav8307]

Just wow. Sir, the video is cool and cleared the maximum doubts which I had earlier. Please make a video on how to calculate the frequencies for the ku band network in satellite communication. It will be very helpful. Please Please Please! 😌

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks! I have *lots* of videos that I'm working on, so please stay tuned!

[@renucci73]

Excellent presentation.

[@Rohde-Schwarz]

Glad you liked it!

[@pauldenisowski]

Thank you ! Really appreciate the feedback.

[@Tom-dn5de]

@@pauldenisowski Thank you so much! It’s a great video again, I have a question that is not relative to this video and your products. I am reading the Specifications and Performance Verification of TSG4106A, I understand most of the parts but “Output level accuracy (IQ modulation relative to CW)” part (on page 21). Even I have tried to read some papers relative to IQ modulation but I still can not get it. If you get a chance, could you please explain it to me? download.tek.com/manual/TSG4100A-Series-RF-Signal-Generator-Specifications-Performance-Verification-Technical-Reference.pdf

[@Toddg1234Mr]

Can the AM or FM signal be heard with the analyzer? In other words can I tune in and hear the signal like a radio?

[@pauldenisowski]

Most spec ans have an audio demodulation function, so yes, you can turn most spec ans into the world's most expensive radios :) I also talk about this in the video "Understanding Zero Span", so please take a look!

[@henrihuybrechts4967]

Excellent beginners tutorial!

[@pauldenisowski]

Thanks!

[@imkow]

is the FFT function on the oscilloscopes a basic spectrum analyzer?

[@electricalscarecrow]

Thank you for this.

[@ahmednor5806]

in 8:15 the paragraph about decreasing RBW (Sweep time (rapidly increase) this not like previous definition as sweep time slowly as RBW decrease in 6:54 am i right ???

[@miketuner8685]

Thanks!

[@fabiononame5256]

Hi, I have a question. If you modify the span, you'll by consequence change the start and stop frequency. It's right? Sorry, I'am asking you that why I'am studying for an exame. Thanks very much.

[@pauldenisowski]

Yes, changing the span will change the start and stop frequencies.

[@jancenj2218]

Will changing the RBW or VBW affect the peak power measurement or reading?

[@pauldenisowski]

Depends on the signal. Generally speaking, you would want the entire signal power falling just slightly within the resolution bandwidth. Another important setting to consider is the detector type (e.g. max peak vs average vs RMS etc.). I intentionally did not cover detectors in this short video, but will be releasing a video specific to this topic in the not-too-distant future.

[@viggstable305]

thank you

[@ahmednor5806]

🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@pauldenisowski]

Thank you!

[@felixal]

02:22 you decreased it both times^^ based on span text maybe typo

[@carlstonjobe9038]

How to connect an external attenuator to prevent distortion when measuring? Does one end connect to the antenna and the other the RF input to the Spectrum Analyzer?

[@pauldenisowski]

Usually an external attenuator would be directly connected (or connected as closely as possible) to the analyzer input.

[@dicey_hermit]

It was better than Great

[@shoracek119]

anyone else think this sounds like Data from Star Trek doing the narration?

[@pauldenisowski]

(laughs) Well, I use contractions and Data doesn't :) I also get comments that I sound like James Wood (?). I will admit that I speak more slowly that I usually do when I record these videos, but any resemblance to Data is purely coincidental.

[@sammin5764]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@ajingolk7716]

RBW = refresh rate ??

[@pauldenisowski]

Not exactly :) RBW affects the sweep time, but it's really a filter that is swept across the span (or rather, the span is swept across the filter). Refresh rate usually applies to scopes, not spec ans.

[@technicaldhruba7406]

900 👍

[@piyashakya4862]

Sir iski hindi me bhi video bnaiye please.

[@pauldenisowski]

क्षमा करें, मेरी हिंदी बहुत खराब है। शायद कोई उन्हें उपशीर्षक दे सकता है?

[@PowderMill]

⚠️🐔 PLEASE - PLEASE ->> HOW ABOUT AN INTENSIVE (2-6 hours) COURSE OR SET OF VIDEOS ON BASIC TO ADVANCED USE OF SPECTRUM ANALYZERS?!? Please? Pretty Please? I have an R+S unit for simple duplexer tuning but now want to learn more. Thank you R+S !

[@pauldenisowski]

As you may have noticed, most of the content in this playlist is in the form of short (~10 minutes) videos, but we're continually developing new videos on the topics of spectrum analyzer (and many other kinds) of measurements, so please stay tuned!

[@PowderMill]

Thanks ! I want to equip our public safety agency with a handful of “radio shops”, bringing simple tasks in-house. Simple = duplexer tuning / alert receiver & pager programming and testing / routine maintenance of repeater sites etc.. BUT... training of our many “hams” is daunting. They are willing to put in the time unpaid.. but the materials are very much missing.

[@pauldenisowski]

@@PowderMill Please feel free to suggest topics you think might be useful for future videos and good luck with the training!

[@maledort6986]

What does FFT do

[@pauldenisowski]

FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) is a computationally optimized way of converting signals between the time and frequency domains, and some spectrum analyzers operate using FFT-based processing. This is a somewhat large and involved topic that really needs to be handled in an entirely separate video (stay tuned!), but in the meantime, please take a look at our whitepaper on Spectrum Analyzer Fundamentals for a good general introduction to the difference between FFT-based and so-called heterodyne-based spectrum analyzers: www.rohde-schwarz-usa.com/Spectrum-Analyzer-Fundamentals.html

[@maledort6986]

Paul Denisowski thank you very much, I’ve been wondering how it works especially when it’s quite common nowadays

[@uhnucross]

See kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaG4f6Ove5preLs

[@MubashirMahmoodsial]

@@pauldenisowski waiting for video lecture on FFT plz upload it asap

[@mejoe444]

No examples full of text reading. Not useful at all. You should teach via an example. Damn very bad!

[@pauldenisowski]

Sorry to hear that the presentation didn't meet your needs. I agree that teaching by example is often the most effective approach, and I'll be sure to consider including more examples in future presentations. Thanks for the feedback!

[@Hansxy]

Oh, the statistical outlier in the mass of satisfied people.